In short
- U.S. Department of State convened representatives from 40 countries and imposed dozens of new sanctions over the past year to enforce restrictions on Iran.
- MG-FLOT vessels transferred close-range ballistic missiles (CRBMs) from Iran to Russia in 2024, according to the U.S. Department of State.
What happened
On September 29, 2026, the U.S. Department of State designated SAHA AIRLINES (Iran), JOINT STOCK COMPANY EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN BUREAU NAMED AFTER A.S. YAKOVLEV (Russia), and MG-FLOT LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY (Russia) for facilitating Iran’s military procurement and violating renewed UN measures. These entities are now subject to asset blocking and transaction prohibitions under E.O. 13949.
The U.S. Department of State, under Operation Economic Outcast, has worked with partners to enforce UN restrictions, convening representatives from 40 countries and imposing dozens of new sanctions. The Department of the Treasury also designated ten entities and individuals for procuring weapons for Iran’s MODAFL.
As a result of today’s sanctions actions, and in accordance with E.O. 13949, all property and interests in property of the designated persons described above that are in the United States or in possession or control of U.S. persons are blocked and must be reported to the Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC).
In numbers
- 40 countries convened to strengthen implementation
- 24 contracted Yak-130 aircraft delivered to Iran
What compliance teams should check
- Screen all transactions and counterparties for SAHA AIRLINES, MG-FLOT LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY, and JOINT STOCK COMPANY EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN BUREAU NAMED AFTER A.S. YAKOVLEV against the SDN List.
- Review Section 1(a)(iii) of E.O. 13949 and Department of State’s Delisting Guidance for compliance and potential petition procedures.
- Monitor for involvement with IRGC-ASF key leaders, including Abdollah Mehrabi, Ahmed Ja’farabadi, and Ali Asghar Norouzi, and report suspicious financial activities to Rewards for Justice.
Why it matters
This action highlights the U.S. government’s ongoing efforts to disrupt Iran’s proliferation-sensitive military procurement networks and enforce UN sanctions. The designation of entities and individuals under E.O. 13949, and the blocking of their assets, directly impacts compliance obligations for financial institutions and businesses. Compliance officers must ensure robust screening against the SDN List, monitor for indirect ownership, and report any prohibited transactions, as failure to do so could result in regulatory penalties and exposure to illicit finance risks.
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